TRENTON, N.J. – The New Jersey Supreme Court has overturned a man's murder conviction after ruling that his confession that he killed his parents was obtained improperly.
Michael Maltese, of South Brunswick, was convicted in 2011 for killing his parents in 2008, burying their bodies in a shallow grave in central New Jersey and then going on a shopping spree using their money with his girlfriend.
The court said Monday that his statement was inadmissible because it was obtained after police violated his Fifth Amendment right to remain silent after secretly recording a conversation with his uncle.
The Supreme Court ruled that a trial court will have to determine whether the evidence is admissible.
The 26-year-old was convicted of passion provocation manslaughter in the death of his father, Michael J. Maltese, and murder in the killing of his mother, Kathleen Maltese.
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